Saturday kicked off the first Gymnastics Competition of the season. All of Ella’s hard work and perseverance since July are shown off in 3 competitions over 2.5 hours each. 12 hours a week of learning and perfecting new skills, conditioning (not her favorite thing!!) and learning the routines boils down to being judged in front of an audience.

At the age of 8, Ella will compete at a level 4 in the JO (junior Olympic) program. Last years competition was all strength skills. Chin ups, rope climb, sprinting, ect. It was very cute to watch but this year, the JO program, is very exciting. For Ella, the thought of getting to have a routine on all four apparatuses was unbelievable!

To help ease Ella’s nerves (and our own) we decided to stay at a hotel close to the competition. Less travel time and a bit more time to sleep would do everyone good.

We paid our admission and registered Ella, then went to find her coach.

Before every practice I give her a kiss on the lips and a kiss on her forehead and tell her “Be Awesome”, competition day was no different. After hugs and kisses from daddy, Bella and me she went off with her coach.

Her first rotation was vault. This is probably what was stressing her the most.